You get to new middlegame positions by playing the sub-optimal/weird moves in the opening that Magnus is suggesting. Otherwise, you get to a familiar middlegame and just grind out a draw.
I don't really understand Magnus' position about playing a sideline vs. Hans Niemann in the infamous cheating game, and was reportedly shocked Hans knew the responses. Before any of that became public and I was reviewing the game, I just thought it was a sideline transposition to a Catalan position, and everyone knows Magnus plays the Catalan as a main white opening - so a weird way of getting to that structure is not that novel.
Hans' explanation made sense, even if he was wrong in his first interview and it came off weird.
Hans' explanation made sense, even if he was wrong in his first interview and it came off weird.